2023 Torridge District Council election

2023 Torridge District Council election
All 36 seats to Torridge District Council ; 19 seats needed for a majority
	Map of the results
Leader before election; Ken James; Independent	Leader after election; Ken James; Independent ; No overall control

Last updated April 05, 2025

The 2023 Torridge District Council election took place on 4 May 2023, to elect all 36 members of Torridge District Council in Devon, England.

Prior to the election the majority of the councillors were independents, with 17 of the 19 independents forming the "Independent Group" led by Ken James, who served as leader of the council. After the election the council went under no overall control. The Independent Group remained the largest grouping, and Ken James was reappointed leader of the council at the subsequent annual council meeting on 22 May 2023.^[3]^[4]^[5]

Summary

Election result

2023 Torridge District Council election^[6]
Party		Candidates	Seats	Gains	Losses	Net gain/loss	Seats %	Votes %	Votes	+/−
	Independent	28	16	3	5	2	44.4	33.4	11,236	–1.8
	Liberal Democrats	15	8	6	0	6	22.2	23.4	7,885	+12.5
	Conservative	25	6	2	7	5	16.7	24.7	8,297	–4.5
	Green	8	4	2	0	2	11.1	10.5	3,515	+1.6
	Labour	9	2	1	2	1	5.6	6.4	2,157	–5.6
	UKIP	2	0	0	0		0.0	1.0	332	–2.9
	Britain First	2	0	0	0		0.0	0.6	204	N/A

Of the 16 independent councillors after the election, 14 formed the Independent Group led by Ken James, the other two sat with the Greens as the "Green Independents" led by Green councillor Peter Christie.^[7]

Ward Results

Incumbents are denoted by an asterisk (*)

Appledore

Appledore
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent	Leonard Ford*	599	64.5	+30.4
	Green	Peter Hames*	588	63.4	+30.9
	UKIP	Nigel Johnson	134	14.4	−9.3
Majority
Turnout			928	31.97	−9.40
	Independent hold		Swing
	Green hold		Swing

Bideford East

Bideford East
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent	Judith Gubb*	459	43.3	+7.1
	Independent	James Craigie	392	36.9	*N/A*
	Green	Huw Thomas	387	36.5	+20.2
	Labour	Jennifer Radford	316	29.8	+0.5
	Independent	Jamie McKenzie*	309	29.1	+5.5
	Conservative	Linda Hellyer	299	28.2	+6.1
	Conservative	James Hellyer	257	24.2	+1.5
	Conservative	Oliver Sherborne	198	18.7	+2.1
Majority
Turnout			1,061	26.20	−1.03
	Independent hold		Swing
	Independent gain from Independent		Swing
	Green gain from Labour		Swing

Bideford North

Bideford North
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Green	Peter Christie*	871	65.4	+14.9
	Liberal Democrats	Trevor Johns	517	38.8	+21.1
	Independent	Douglas Bushby*	505	37.9	+0.3
	Labour	Nicholas Radford	316	23.7	+5.9
	Conservative	Dermot McGeough*	299	22.5	−13.6
	UKIP	Gaston Dezart	198	14.9	N/A
Majority
Turnout			1,331	30.27	−7.38
	Green hold		Swing
	Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative		Swing
	Independent hold		Swing

Bideford South

Bideford South
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labour	David Brenton*	247	39.2	+7.1
	Independent	Simon Inch	200	31.7	+0.8
	Labour	Jake McLean	199	31.6	−0.5
	Green	Simon Mathers	166	26.3	N/A
	Independent	Peter Lawrence	162	25.7	−1.8
	Britain First	Philip Green	108	17.1	N/A
	Britain First	Anne Townsend	96	15.2	N/A
Majority
Turnout			630	25.10	−1.87
	Labour hold		Swing
	Independent gain from Labour		Swing

Bideford West

Bideford West
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent	Carl Hawkins*	187	34.1	−2.0
	Labour	Eithne Brenton	186	33.9	+6.0
	Independent	Shirley Langford	178	32.4	N/A
	Independent	Anthony Inch*	161	29.3	−3.8
	Conservative	Jason Murdoch	128	23.3	−7.8
	Conservative	Morgan Taylor	108	19.7	N/A
Majority
Turnout			549	25.22	−2.87
	Independent hold		Swing
	Labour gain from Conservative		Swing

Broadheath

Broadheath
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent	Philip Hackett*	547	50.3	−9.6
	Conservative	Stephen Gibson	449	41.3	+9.8
	Liberal Democrats	Sherrie Green	412	37.9	N/A
	Conservative	Graeme Barriball	380	34.9	+5.2
Majority
Turnout			1,088	33.10	−1.67
	Independent hold		Swing
	Conservative gain from Independent		Swing

Great Torrington

Great Torrington
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democrats	Christopher Bright*	751	59.9	+20.5
	Liberal Democrats	Lauren Bright	588	46.9	−18.0
	Liberal Democrats	Douglas Smith	553	44.1	*N/A*
	Independent	Margaret Brown*	327	26.1	−11.5
	Conservative	Roger Darch	318	25.4	N/A
	Green	Keith Funnell	261	20.8	−2.9
	Labour	Penelope Hewitt	230	18.4	−5.0
	Conservative	Helen Wilton-Love	214	17.1	N/A
Majority
Turnout			1,253	28.85	−3.42
	Liberal Democrats hold		Swing
	Liberal Democrats hold		Swing
	Liberal Democrats gain from Independent		Swing

Hartland

Hartland
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democrats	Shirleyann Andrews	763	49.5	+23.2
	Independent	Anna Dart*	755	49.0	+13.3
	Conservative	Stephen Harding*	640	41.5	+4.3
	Conservative	Richard Boughton*	567	36.8	−0.1
	Independent	Robin Julian	439	28.5	+1.8
Majority
Turnout			1,542	32.73	−5.41
	Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative		Swing
	Independent hold		Swing
	Conservative hold		Swing

Holsworthy

Holsworthy
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democrats	Lyndon Piper	541	61.5	*N/A*
	Independent	Peter Shepherd	460	52.3	*N/A*
	Liberal Democrats	Emma Hosie	255	29.0	N/A
	Conservative	Diana Stevens	166	18.9	−55.1
	Conservative	Melanie Dymond	142	16.2	−32.3
Majority
Turnout			879	36.14	+2.23
	Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative		Swing
	Independent gain from Conservative		Swing

Milton & Tamarside

Milton & Tamarside
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent	Kenneth James*	659	61.0	+61.0
	Independent	Christopher Hepple*	524	48.5	+48.5
	Green	Tracey Beresford	374	34.6	N/A
	Labour	Tony Barrett	225	20.8	N/A
Majority
Turnout			1,080	32.36	+32.36
	Independent hold		Swing
	Independent gain from Conservative		Swing

Monkleigh & Putford

Monkleigh & Putford
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent	Philip Pennington*	567	44.1	−16.2
	Independent	Robert Hicks*	537	41.7	−12.2
	Green	Rosemary Gent	355	27.6	+1.5
	Conservative	Susan Collins	339	26.3	+6.9
	Labour	James Lowe	312	24.2	N/A
	Conservative	Jeffrey Wilton-Love	218	16.9	+2.0
Majority
Turnout			1,287	40.91	+1.98
	Independent hold		Swing
	Independent hold		Swing

Northam

Northam
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent	Christopher Leather*	674	45.0	−2.9
	Conservative	Jane Whittaker	530	35.4	+12.1
	Green	Wendy Lo-Vel	513	34.2	*N/A*
	Independent	Joanne Manley*	485	32.4	−4.4
	Liberal Democrats	Samantha Newman-McKie	471	31.4	+15.8
	Conservative	Carrie Woodhouse*	334	22.3	−0.5
	Independent	John Himan	310	20.7	−2.6
	Independent	Hugh Brading	268	17.9	N/A
Majority
Turnout			1,499	37.18	+1.98
	Independent hold		Swing
	Conservative gain from Independent		Swing
	Green gain from Independent		Swing

Shebbear & Langtree

Shebbear & Langtree
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democrats	Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin**	892	66.2	+30.2
	Liberal Democrats	Christopher Wheatley	700	52.0	*N/A*
	Conservative	David Hurley*	540	40.1	−5.8
	Conservative	David Jupp	348	25.8	−6.4
Majority
Turnout			1,347	43.92	+0.10
	Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative		Swing
	Liberal Democrats gain from Independent		Swing

Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin was a sitting councillor for Great Torrington ward.

Two Rivers & Three Moors

Two Rivers & Three Moors
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Rosemary Lock*	609	50.2	−8.8
	Conservative	Thomas Elliott	513	42.3	−9.3
	Liberal Democrats	Roger Allen	476	39.2	N/A
	Liberal Democrats	Claire Davey-Potts	452	37.3	N/A
	Independent	Rachel Clarke	220	18.1	N/A
Majority
Turnout			1,213	36.96	−1.89
	Conservative hold		Swing
	Conservative hold		Swing

Westward Ho!

Westward Ho!
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Independent	Claire Hodson*	494	46.0	−0.3
	Independent	Louis Bach	334	31.1	*N/A*
	Liberal Democrats	Albert Bruins	277	25.8	N/A
	Independent	Derek Sargent	243	22.6	−3.8
	Independent	Anmol Singh	241	22.4	N/A
	Conservative	Kenneth Hind	183	17.0	−1.7
	Conservative	Patricia Ferguson	175	16.3	N/A
Majority
Turnout			1,074	35.99	−5.88
	Independent hold		Swing
	Independent gain from Independent		Swing

Winkleigh

Winkleigh
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Simon Newton*	343	48.6	+0.7
	Liberal Democrats	Stephen Middleton	237	33.6	−3.8
	Labour	Angela Findlay	126	17.8	+3.1
Majority
Turnout			706	40.55	+0.03
	Conservative hold		Swing

Changes 2023–2027

Bideford North by-election

Bideford North by-election, 2 May 2024^[8]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal Democrats	Teresa Tinsley	358	29.1	−9.7
	Labour	Tom Hammett	231	18.8	−4.9
	Green	John Puddy	229	18.6	−46.8
	Conservative	Morgan Taylor	173	14.1	−8.4
	Independent	Anthony Inch	123	10.0	N/A
	Reform UK	Nigel Johnson	90	7.3	N/A
	Independent	Ruth Craigie	25	2.0	N/A
Majority			127	10.3	N/A
Turnout			1,229	27.9	−2.4
	Liberal Democrats gain from Green

By-election triggered by death of Green councillor Peter Christie.^[9]

Appledore by-election

Appledore by-election 17 April 2025
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Green	Keith Funnell
	Independent	Nigel Andrew Johnson
	Liberal Democrats	Kerry Samantha O'Rourke
	Conservative	Carrie Woodhouse

References

↑ Of the 19 independent councillors prior to the election, 17 formed the "Independent" group led by Ken James, the other two were non-aligned.^[1]
↑ Including one vacant seat in Holsworthy ward previously held by Conservative councillor Jon Hutchings prior to his resignation in November 2022.^[2]

↑ "Your councillors by political grouping". Torridge District Council. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
↑ Boothroyd, David (18 November 2022). "Noted for fresh air and fun". Local Councils. Thorncliffe. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
↑ "Council minutes, 22 May 2023". Torridge District Council. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
↑ "Local elections 2023: Independents remain biggest group in Torridge". BBC News. 2023-05-05. Retrieved 2023-05-07.
↑ Heptinstall, Ollie (1 June 2023). "Councillor Ken James secures re-election as Torridge District Council leader". Devon Live. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
↑ "Torridge result - Local Elections 2023". BBC News. Retrieved 2023-05-07.
↑ "Your councillors by political grouping". Torridge District Council. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
↑ "Declaration of result of poll" (PDF). Torridge District Council. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
↑ Clarke, Lewis (21 February 2024). "North Devon legend Peter Christie dies, aged 73". Devon Live. Retrieved 10 May 2024.

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[2] Of the 19 independent councillors prior to the election, 17 formed the "Independent" group led by Ken James, the other two were non-aligned.^[1]

[4] Including one vacant seat in Holsworthy ward previously held by Conservative councillor Jon Hutchings prior to his resignation in November 2022.^[2]

[1] "Your councillors by political grouping". Torridge District Council. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 2 August 2023.

[3] Boothroyd, David (18 November 2022). "Noted for fresh air and fun". Local Councils. Thorncliffe. Retrieved 2 August 2023.

[5] "Council minutes, 22 May 2023". Torridge District Council. Retrieved 2 August 2023.

[6] "Local elections 2023: Independents remain biggest group in Torridge". BBC News. 2023-05-05. Retrieved 2023-05-07.

[7] Heptinstall, Ollie (1 June 2023). "Councillor Ken James secures re-election as Torridge District Council leader". Devon Live. Retrieved 2 August 2023.

[8] "Torridge result - Local Elections 2023". BBC News. Retrieved 2023-05-07.

[9] "Your councillors by political grouping". Torridge District Council. Retrieved 2 August 2023.

[10] "Declaration of result of poll" (PDF). Torridge District Council. Retrieved 10 May 2024.

[11] Clarke, Lewis (21 February 2024). "North Devon legend Peter Christie dies, aged 73". Devon Live. Retrieved 10 May 2024.

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v t e Council elections in Devon
Devon County Council	1889 1892 1895 1898 1901 1904 1907 1910 1913 1919 1922 1925 1928 1931 1934 1937 1946 1949 1952 1955 1958 1961 1964 1967 1970 1973 1977 1981 1985 1989 1993 1997 2001 2005 2009 2013 2017 2021 2025
East Devon District Council	1973 1976 1979 1980 1982 1983 1984 1986 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 2019 2023
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Plymouth City Council	1973 1976 1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 1997 2000 2003 2004 2006 2007 2008 2010 2011 2012 2014 2015 2016 2018 2019 2021 2022 2023 2024
South Hams District Council	1973 1976 1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 2019 2023
Teignbridge District Council	1973 1976 1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 2019 2023
Torbay Council	1973 1976 1979 1983 1984 1986 1987 1988 1990 1991 1995 1997 2000 2003 2007 2011 2015 2019 2023
Torridge District Council	1973 1976 1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 2019 2023
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See also: Wards Boundary changes